Thank you for choosing Aachen! Here you can find out all about the city's peculiarities and characteristics. For example: Who was Karl's favorite? Where does innovation shine? Öcher Platt for beginners? A family man? How do Aacheners see their home? What does Aachen have to do with Europe? What cultural offerings are there? What about sport and leisure? Where is the best place to chill out and enjoy yourself?
The direct line to the City of Aachen: At the "Servicecenter Call Aachen" you can get answers to all your questions about the services of the Aachen city administration by calling the central telephone number 0241 / 432-0 or by e-mail between 7 am and 6 pm.
Please do not forget: Register your primary residence! This will save you the second residence tax, which is 12% of the basic rent. And you can also apply for a resident's parking permit. Incidentally, the city of Aachen benefits from your registration. It receives an allowance for every resident with a primary residence. This in turn can be invested in projects that benefit you.
Registering your place of residence is free of charge. All you need is your identity card. You can contact the Citizens' Service at the station, the Citizens' Service at Katschhof and the district offices.
You can not only register your place of residence at the Citizens' Service, but also obtain registration certificates, certifications and certificates of good conduct.
Housing benefit is a financial subsidy towards rental costs. In order to receive housing benefit, you must not be eligible for BAföG and must be in need. It is not sufficient for a BAföG application to be rejected because your parents' income exceeds your income. Exception: If you live together with a person entitled to BAföG, you are jointly entitled to housing benefit. Housing benefit can be applied for at the 'Servicebereich für Wohngeld' of the Department of Housing, Social Affairs and Integration (for residents of Aachen-Mitte) and at all district offices.
You can only move into a council apartment if you have a valid housing entitlement certificate (WBS). It is valid for one year and specifies the maximum size of the apartment you can move into. You will receive it if your income is not too high. Housing entitlement certificates can be applied for at the "Wohnberechtigung / Wohnungsvermittlung" department of the Department of Housing, Social Affairs and Integration and at all district offices.
The cheapest accommodation for students at Aachen's universities is offered by Studierendenwerk Aachen. You can register on the waiting list here. For those who prefer newspapers: on Wednesdays and Saturdays, real estate advertisements can be found in Aachener Zeitung, Super Sonntag and Annonce. gewoge AG offers a large selection of affordable housing. Here, older people offer you free housing and you support them in everyday life. The Housing, Social Affairs and Integration department will also help you find affordable housing. If you have a valid WBS, you will receive information about available subsidized apartments.
If you receive BAföG and do not live with your parents, you can be exempted from the radio and television fees. The Citizens' Service at Katschhof and Bahnhofplatz or the district offices will confirm the documents to be submitted to the GEZ.
You can register your car or motorcycle at the road traffic office in the city region.
The streets and squares in Aachen's city center are divided into different parking zones. Residents of the respective zones can apply for a resident parking permit, which means they do not need to buy a parking ticket in this zone. You can apply for a resident parking permit online, but only if you have registered your primary residence in Aachen.
In Aachen, waste is collected and disposed of separately. You can create your own personal waste calendar (with emptying dates, bulky goods collection, special waste, etc.) online at the waste calendar. There is also further helpful information.
Are you ready to make Aachen your new home, but don't understand the locals? No problem!
All important information, support options and useful links about studying in Aachen.
Many Öchers have made a name for themselves in the world from the imperial city. Who knows, maybe the world is waiting for you too.
The question of primary or secondary residence is irrelevant for the GEZ. If you are entitled to BAföG, you can apply for exemption.
Health insurance, long-term care insurance, pension insurance and life insurance are independent of your place of residence.
In the case of liability insurance, students are generally insured with their parents up to the age of 25 (in some cases also up to the age of 27), even if their primary residence is at the place of study.
If you share a car registered to your parents, it does not have to be re-registered. However, you will only receive a resident parking permit if you have registered your primary residence in Aachen.
Your parents will continue to receive child benefit for you, regardless of where you are registered. Only your age is decisive here.
For tax benefits for parents, it is not a requirement that you are registered as a primary resident in your parents' home. In the case of the household allowance, it is sufficient if you are registered as having a second residence with your parents. In the case of the child building allowance/homeowner's allowance, you must be part of the beneficiary's household at some point during the funding period. A later re-registration with retention of a second residence is therefore not detrimental.
Starting your studies in Aachen? That was an excellent idea! Our young film team Sebastian (student at ABK Maastricht) and Xenia (student at RWTH Aachen University) investigated what the quality of life of an Oecher is like.